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THB PBBSKKCB OF CHRIST THB OLORf OF nil ■OOII. 



SERMON 



DELITERED AT THE 



DBDIOjBlTIOXT 



NT1\¥ BRICK ITIEETIIVG-IIOrSE 



IN VTEST BOYLSTON 



^ 






AropiT 52, 18o5. 



BY JOHN BOARDMAN, 

I^Mlor of the Congregational Church in Wtit Bolyilon. 




JSalcm : 

rniRTBD BY VTARniCK PilFRAT, JVtt. 



SERMON. 



HAGGAI, iL chap. 9th verse. 
The olort or this latter house shall be greater tha» of the 

FORMER, SAITH THE LoRD OF HoSTS. 

These words refer to the second Temple 
which the Jews were commanded to erect for the 
services of rehgion. The old men, who saw the 
first Temple in all its magnificence and glory, know- 
ing th(; depressed condition of their nation, weak- 
ened in numhers, scanty in resources, and frowned 
upon by some of the Persian Kings, discouraged 
the Israelites in their work, saying, The time is not 
come that the Lord^s house should be built. 

But He, who knows the deception men practice 
with themselves, said, Is it time for you^ O ye, to 
dwell in ceiled houses^ and this house lie waste ? 
If your poverty and distress be so great, that ye 
cannot erect a temple to the honor of my name, 
how have ye built such commodious habitations for 
yourselves? Is it becoming for you to Vivo in 
splendid dwellings, when there is no house in which 
my name is recorded, wiiithcr the tribes go uj) to 
worship? J\o?^5 therefore^ thus sailh the Lord of* 
Ilosts^ Consider your ways. Go vp to the moun- 



tain^ and bring ivood^ and build the house, and I 
will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified. 
The Most High greatly encouraged the Israelites 
to go forward — Yet noiv be strong, all ye people of 
the land, and ivork, for I am ivith you, and my 
spirit remaineth among you ; fear ye not. The 
silver and the gold are mine. The resources of 
your whole nation are at my disposal, and may be 
drawn out for this praiseworthy enterprize. Be not 
discouraged in this undertaking which ye have com- 
menced for the worship of Jehovah. For yet a 
little while, and the desire of all nations shall come, 
and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord 
of Hosts, 

The glory of this latter house shall be greater 
than of the /ormer. 

Particular reference is made here to the bodily ' 
presence of Christ, who was yet to come in the 
flesh, who is the brightness of the Father's glory, 
and who would expound the law and instruct the 
Jewish nation in that house which was about to be 
erected for God. The second Temple could not 
surpass the first in its costly decorations, for there 
were a majesty and glory in Solomon's temple, 
which have never been equalled. Its furniture was 
of gold, and the building itself, without its appur- 
tenances, was the wonder and astonishment of the 
Eastern world. There were special marks of the 
Divine favour connected with this building, which 
the second temple never enjoyed. The Ark of the 
Covenant rested here by the Oracle of God, and 
the Shechinah, or Divine presence, abode in it. 
Here too were the Urim and the Thummim, by 
which the High Priest consulted the Supreme Be- 



ing in momentous cases, and received responses 
from the sacred place. The number and pros|)ects 
of the Jewish nation were greater and brighter, at 
this time, than at any subsequent period in their 
history. Yet, the second Temple would be more 
honorable and glorious, by the presence and in- 
structions of Jesus Ciu'ist, the great teacher of 
righteousness, whose advent, sufferings, death and 
resurrection, formed a new era in the history of 
man, and opened to his mind bright visions of eter- 
nal blessedness. 

The sentiment of the text is this: — The j^resence 
of Christ constitutes the glory of an house dedica- 
ted to the worship and service of God. 

Christ is present in the assembly of his saints. 
Wherever his disciples, the children of God by the 
renewing and sanctifying influences of the Holy 
Spirit, are assembled for his worship and to seek 
his blessing, there is he spiritually present, to com- 
fort their hearts, invigorate their graces, and enli- 
ven their devotions. There does he listen to their 
petitions, and their pious ofterings go up as a sweet 
memorial before God. In his house he has record- 
ed his name, and set apart him that is godly for 
himself; there his glory is shadowed forth, and his 
people are accustomed to celebrate ins j)raise. 
Christ says. Where two or three are gathcrc.'d to- 
gether in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 
Yes, the blessed Jesus is graciously pleased to 
grant his presence, and cheer his disciples widi the 
precious consolations of his Spirit. It is tiun tiiey 
have proper conceptions of his character, and the 
blessings purchased by his love, and enjoy a won- 
derful exhibition of his transformin^r influenrc. 



The souls of believers are brought into an intimate 
union with Christ, to whom they have consecrated 
their powers and substance. The language of their 
affections is: It is good for us to be here. As the 
hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my 
soul after thee, O God. I had rather be a door- 
keeper in the house of God, than to dwell in the 
tents of wickedness. How amiable are thy taber- 
nacles, O Lord of Hosts. They earnestly desire 
to see the power and glory of God as they are seen 
in the sanctuary. 

Where the blessed Gospel of the grace of God 
is clearly exhibited, and its sacred doctrines un- 
folded 5 where the great and sublime truths of f e- 
ligion are preached with power, and made effectual 
by the Spirit of grace ; where Christ and him cru- 
cified is distinctly presented as the only foundation 
of hope to the sinner and joy to the christian, there 
is Christ present, warming the heart to lively grat- 
itude, and extending peace to the returning peni- 
tent. The exhibition of Christ in his true charac- 
ter, God manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit 
— Christ suffering for the sins of the world, and ris- 
ing from the dead for the exaltation and blessed- 
ness of sinful men, is the glory of the gospel. Paul 
says. We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a 
stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness ; 
but unto them which are called, both Jews and 
Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wis- 
dom of God. Where the vicarious atonement is 
received as the truth of God, and the merits of 
the Saviour are regarded as the only foundation of 
hope and salvation, there does Christ dwell as the 
glory of an house consecrated to his service. 



The presence of Christ constitutes the glory of 
the sanctuary, when the people are induced to at- 
tend upon the instructions of religion, and hring 
themselves under the influence of gospel truth. It 
must be admitted that greater attention is paid to 
the services of religion, and greater interest mani- 
fested in its important results, than in former peri- 
ods of the Christian church. The means of reli- 
gious knowledge and grace, and the facilities of 
moral improvement, have multiplied in variety and 
extent adapted to the wants of this growing repub- 
lic, and there is pleasing evidence of increasing at- 
tention to tiiese means, with earnest desires to be- 
come savingly interested in the religion of the Bi- 
ble. Most people in our communities are accus- 
tomed to observe at least the external forms of re- 
ligion, and, I trust, with confident hopes of the 
blessing of Heaven. The house of God is the gate 
of mercy, and his truth is the grand instrument of 
salvation; and the supreme object of preaching is 
the salvation of men, in subserviency to the Divine 
glory. 

When this object is accomplished, when sinners 
are found seeking an interest in Christ, making 
themselves new hearts, turning from sin to holiness, 
repenting and believing the gospel, as all are bound 
to do by the grace of God — when the deep impres- 
sion and feehng conviction of the great company 
are: I was glad when they said unto'^me, let us go 
into the house of the Lord, our feet shall stand 
within thy gates, O Jerusalem ; when multitudes 
go up to the house of God in company, and take 
sweet counsel together, watching at wisdom's 
gates, and waiting at the post-^? of her doors for in- 



8 

stniction : a glory fills the sacred place ; Christ is 
spiritually present, the truth is impressed on the 
conscience, the Spirit of God rendering it effectual 
in the conversion of sinners to the faith and obedi- 
ence of the gospel. 

An house of worship is glorious with the pres- 
ence of Christ, when an earnest concern about the 
great things of religion and the eternal world be- 
comes general in the congregation. When the 
hearts of men are humbled and melted down into 
submission to the will of God, a cordial love of his 
character and complacency in his government, by 
the outpourings of the blessed Spirit, (and these 
wonderful displays of the power of truth, and the 
mercy of God, are eminently characteristic of the 
present times) — the doings of God are then seen in 
the sanctuary, the salvation of the soul is the chief 
concern, and sinners are brought out of darkness 
into marvellous light, and rejoice in hope of the 
glory of God. 

If there ever be celestial enjoyment on earth, it 
is when the Holy Spirit, the blessed Comforter, 
sheds his gracious influences on worshipping as- 
semblies, when every ear is open to receive the 
words of salvation, when some are filled with dis- 
tressing fears for their safety, and others with joy 
and love and hope. 

When christians enjoy a spirit of grace and sup- 
plication, and new converts exhibit deep solicitude 
and untiring zeal for the salvation of their compa- 
nions and friends 5 how does the believer renew his 
strength, and gather fresh supplies of wisdom and 
grace, to pursue a little longer his pilgrimage on 
earth to his rest in Heaven ! How are the tender 



sympathies of his nature called into exercise, and 
the affections soothed to sweet devotion ! A deep 
and solemn stillness pervades the public assembly, 
and he is ready to say. The Lord is in his holy 
temple, let all the earth keep silence before him. 
The day is a delight, the place is honorable and 
irlorious. In thy temple shall every one speak of 
thy glory. 

Is there not reason to believe, since the philoso- 
phy of the human mind under the operation of re- 
ligious motives is better understood ; since a flood 
of light is shed upon the sacred scriptures, and the 
advantages to explain the Bible, and apprehend its 
momentous truths, are far greater than have been 
heretofore enjoyed ; since the style of writing and 
preaching is more direct and pungent, that more 
striking displays of the divine presence will be 
witnessed in this temple than in the former? When 
greater numbers, raised from the ruins of the apos- 
tacy by the grace of God, and sanctified by his 
Spirit, will subscribe with their own hands unto 
the Lord, and return to Zion with songs and ever- 
lasting joys upon their heads. 

This liouse will be more glorious witli the pres- 
ence of Christ, because the worship of God will 
be more holy and pure. The services of religion, 
the various acts of devotion in which men enijage, 
are pure and holy in |)roportion to the number of 
Christ's true disciples who perform them ; their 
knowledge of divine things ; the elevation of their 
christian character, the spirituality of their devo- 
tions, and their progress in the ways of godliness. 
The children of God are under greater advantaijes 
to urow in i^rare and be emin(Mitly holy, than in 



to 

former periods of the world. In this respect our 
life seems to have fallen upon altogether a new dis- 
pensation. The number of God's people is con- 
stantly increasing, the churches are enlarged with 
efficient members, and soon we may hope that all 
the worshippers in this temple will become incor- 
porated with Christ's visible kingdom. And with 
the ascendancy which divine truth will have in the 
hearts and lives of his people, it is true that the 
worship of God will be proportionably more pure 
and holy. This house will probably live to the 
dawn of the millenium ; this church may flourish 
in the midst of it. If the power of the gospel is 
displayed in such a w^onderful manner in coming 
years, as it has been in preceding periods of the 
church ; if converts to the religion of Jesus, and 
believers in the sublime doctrines of the christian 
faith, are multiplied in a geometrical ratio ; if the 
truth of God, which is his wisdom, and power^ 
moves forward, with its subduing and transforming 
influence, overcoming every obstacle which resists 
its progress, and bringing the hearts of men under 
the controlling power of religion, this sanctuary 
will be filled with the presence of Christ, and the 
rich manifestations of his goodness. 

And are there not clear indications that the 
Lord is turning back the captivity of his people? 
Do not the movements in the moral world evince 
the power and pleasure of God with reference to 
his people? Believers are going out into the high- 
ways and hedges, and compelling sinners to bring 
themselves within the voice of mercy, with strong 
faith in their salvation. Christ is calling his sons 
from far, and his daughters from the ends of the 



11 

earth. Light and truth are breaking through the 
clouds of darkness and sin which have lonu: obscu- 
red their brightness : the church is waking up 
from her long slumbers of apathy, and coming for- 
ward to the standard of life and action ; and all the 
wisdom and energy of the advocates of good mor- 
als and the friends of vital religion, arc becoming 
concentrated for the diffusion of the blessings of 
salvation, and for the conversion of men. Have we 
not reason to believe, that this house, dedicated to 
the service of God, will be the theatre of the won- 
derful displays of divine mercy? That God's glo- 
ry will be seen in the sanctuary with surprising 
splendor? That converts to the faith and practice 
of religion will be multiplied as the drops of the 
morning dew? That the ministers of Jesus, with 
impassioned eloquence on tbe theme of immortal 
love and the everhistiuLT destinies of men, will here 
build up an immortal kingdom, whicii \\'\\\ shine 
with the splendor of Heaven, when the material 
universe shall be no more? 

In anticipation, lookinir down the vista of future 
years, I see the blessed inlluences of the gospel 
upon this future congregation. Here the sinner is 
humbled at the footstool of divine mercy, nnd the 
doubting are established in the truths of religion. 
Here christians are lively stones in tlu; temple of 
God, rellecting the moral image of the bh'sscd Sa- 
viour, and "the aged, like Simeon and Anna, with 
every desire accomplisbed, ready to depart, .uid 
children climbing a father's knees to hear of 
Christ." Generations mdxjrn will here behold 
the wonderful triunij)!is of redeeming love, and this 
goodly edifice will be to uiultitudes the lwu,);c of 



12 

God and the gate of Heaven, At this Table of 
the Lord, may a great company of believers cele- 
brate the dying love of their risen and glorified Sa- 
viour, and around this Altar may the children re- 
ceive the seal of the covenant, in a solemn dedica- 
tion to God, and hear the voice of the Saviour, 
Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid 
them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven. 

May this house be glorious w^ith the presence of 
God. May Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy 
Spirit, dwell in it, with the refreshing dews of 
grace, and help his people in their labours and tri- 
als on earth, and in their preparation for the bless- 
edness of Heaven. 

The great purposes of salvation are principally 
to be accomplished through the instrumentality of 
a preached gospel. This is the grand means which 
a sovereign God has seen fit to use in enlighten- 
ing, convincing and reforming men, and sanctify- 
ing them by the Spirit, for the employments of his 
heavenly kingdom. For while I believe in the ne- 
cessity of the Holy Spirit to bring sinners to re- 
pentance, and to humble them at the feet of Jesus; 
Mobile I believe that God gives the increase ; that 
the excellency of the power is ofhim^ and not of 
us, and that to him must be ascribed the glory of 
man's salvation ; I as truly believe, that ardent 
feelingj persuasive eloquence^ apostolic fervor^ and 
enlightened zeal for the salvation of men, are inti- 
mately connected with the greatest number of con- 
versions, and the purity of divine worship, and the 
glorious triumphs of universal benevolence. Let 
it be graven on the walls of this house, and more 
deeply on the tablets of our hearts, that while the 



13 

power is of God, and all hope of success in the 
work of renovating a world, is in his blessing ; that 
he yet converts men by the instrumentality of his 
own truth, and applies by the Spirit no other in- 
strument to the heart; and that the effect ordina- 
rily is in proportion to the clearness, force and 
eloquence with which that truth is preached. 

Remarks. 

1. That this house may be glorious, it should 
be specially dedicated to the holy xoorship of God. 
It must never be devoted to purposes of gain, or 
unhallowed worldly employments. For holiness 
becometh the house of the Lord forever, and all 
things disconnected with the services of religion are 
to be excluded from the place of sacred devotions. 
All unholy affections of mind towards God, and 
our fellow men, are to be kept out of this place. 
This is the temple of God ; and how can it sub- 
serve the purposes of devotion, unless there be 
similarity of feeling and sentiment, and united cor- 
dial attachment to the things of religion. 

All feelings of pride and haughtiness must be 
excluded from the mind 5 every thing which looks 
like ostentation must be separated from solemji 
acts of religious worship. We come not here to 
be seen of men, to show off our persons to good 
advantage. This is not the place to perform a 
few religious services on the Sabbath, just as a 
cloak to cover the sins we may commit on the rest 
of the week. We come not here to indulge spirit- 
ual pride, attaciiing any peculiar merit to our- 
selves, as those who piously regard the Lord's 
day ; but as the humble and sincere worshippers 



14 

of God, who have duties to perform of a high res 
ponsibility, with which are associated present hap- 
piness and future rewards. The believer should 
realize that a broken heart, a lowly disposition, 
alone can render his imperfect devotions accepta- 
ble to God, through the merits of Jesus Christ. 
How foreign, then, from religious concerns, is a 
spirit of display? The heart of the true worship- 
per says. Let them be excluded from my devotions, 
away from every religious duty. Come not nigh, 
ye intruders, to my hallowed hours. Let me go 
to the house of God with a placid serenity of mind. 
Let me be divested of every thing, which may sep- 
arate my soul from sweet communion with my Sa- 
viour and God. 

All dissensions must be kept out of the house of 
the Lord. Whatever differences of opinion or sen- 
timents on common subjects^ may agitate the mind 
and honestly govern the conduct, they should all 
be left at the very threshold of this sacred temple, 
they should be banished from the place in our ap- 
proaches to an holy God. Profane not the place, 
abuse not the privileges of public worship, with 
dispositions which cannot profit, and which will 
prevent that religious improvement which in other 
circumstances you might enjoy. Say, to these un- 
holy affections. Away from this consecrated retreat. 
Here let my mind dwell upon the love and grace of 
God, in the deliverance of man from the power of 
sin, and his translation into the kingdom of Christ. 
Let my attention be fixed upon the momentous 
concerns of eternity, with which I shall soon be fa- 
miliar 5 let me think of my ways, repent of my 
sins, and execute new resolutions of a better life. 



15 

All worldly-mindedness, ideas of traHickins:, and 
calculations respecting the common occupations of 
life, are to be shut out of this sanctujirv. This 
building is the Lord's, in an exalted sense. Here 
will his glory be displayed, and the sacred presence 
of the Great Head of the Church enjoyed. The 
business to he done here is such as ought to inter- 
est every individual ; it is an eternal transaction, 
with which is connected the glory of Jehovah, and 
man's immortal destiny. The house, with all its 
sacred furniture, is to-day dedicated to Cod. O 
let it never be polluted to sacrilegious ends. 

Our Lord on a certain occasion went up to the 
temple for religious ])urposes, and found it profan- 
ed by transactions of a worldly kind, many of which 
at another time, and in another place, could not 
have been lawfully prosecuted. So little regard 
was had to the appropriate duties of the place, that 
the people were found engaged in the acquisition 
of property. Our Lord's holy indignation was 
aroused at such a perversion of the temple and its 
ordinances, and he overthrew the teniples' of the 
iuoney changers, and said. Take these things 
hence — make not my Father's house an house of 
merchandize — my house shall be called an house 
of prayer, but ye have made it a deji of thieves. 
The conduct of Christ was of so decided a charac- 
ter that his disciples immediately recollected a say- 
ing recorded in the Psalms, The zeal of thine house 
hath eaten me up. That is, 1 am inwardly con- 
sumed by an earnest desire to purify thy sacred or- 
dinances and thy holy habitation. Would you en- 
joy the presence of Christ? Shall the glory of 
ihis latter house be greater than the former? The 



16 

purposes of this temple, its ministry, the duties here 
inculcated, and the doctrines unfolded, and the or- 
dinances celebrated, must be those which the Bible 
discloses, and upon which is stamped the broad 
seal of Heaven. 

Here may there always be a pious and devoted 
Minister, free to examine and think and act for 
himself; whose mind is not shackled by systems 
of faith, and foreclosed against all the light which 
science, and controversy, and theological learning, 
have shed upon the sacred scriptures. One who 
shall not suit his instructions to gratify a fastidious 
taste, or please his people ; but one who feels the 
awful responsibihty of an ambassador of Christ, 
who draws his opinions and messages from the live- 
ly oracles of God. A minister of the everlasting 
Gospel, one who will not wish to gratify a part of 
his people, and think his duty discharged when they 
are pleased ; but one whose commission is from 
God, to whom he is soon to give an account, and 
who never asks whether good people or bad people 
are gratified with his labours ; but, ivhether God 
is pleased and honoured. Whether he shows 
God's people their transgressions, and calls back 
to duty some wanderer from the fold of Jesus? 
Whether the Laiu speaks out its thunders to the 
wicked, and they are alarmed with fears, and con- 
vinced of sin, and turn from their evil ways and 
live? It will be his solicitude to know whether he 
be a son of consolation to the broken-hearted, re- 
turning penitent ; and whether to such, the Gospel 
in his hands whispers peace. A workman that 
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the 



17 

word of truth — a steward of the manifold mysteries 
of God. 

This sacred edifice is consecrated to the defence 
and maintenance of the faith once dehvered to the 
saints ; to the propagation of the great doctrines 
of the reformation which have come down to us by 
revelation, and for the defence of which a great 
company of holy men have counted not their lives 
dear to them, thus to testify the gospel of the grace 
of God. And far distant be the period when the 
trumpet of the gospel shall not sound the alarm to 
the impenitent, and Christ and him crucified shall 
not be the life and substance of the religion which 
is here preached. When that day shall come, 
Ichabod will be engraven upon these walls, for the 
glory will have departed. 

While there is a system of revealed truth denom- 
inated evangelical, for which it becomes christians 
to sacrifice any interest however dear, we should 
iruard against fruitless attempts to secure the a- 
greement of even good men upon various topics, 
unessential to the christian faith, lest we fritter a- 
way the gospel, lose sight of its true object, and 
neutralize its influence upon our souls. Religion 
demands the united eflbrts and concentrated ener- 
gies of all the friends of Jesus; and it becomes 
them to remember, they see through a glass dark- 
l\j^ they know but in part. Do not cherish a dog- 
matical, unyielding spirit; but while in your life 
is manifested the power of your own principles, 
give full credit to the honesty of your neighbour's 
opinions, if there be unecpiivocal evidence that the 
grace of God has found a lodgment in his heart. 
"There always has been debateable ground in tlie 
3 



18 

church, and with humility let it be said) this ground 
is the theatre of the enemy's triumph." Some doc- 
trines are so clearly revealed, thatnone need mistake 
them who number themselves with the people of God. 
And I see not what evidence of piety an understand- 
ing person can have, or what claims upon our cha- 
rity he may possess, w^ho denies them. These are 
the personality and divinity of the Father, Son and 
Holy Ghost, distinct in their offices, but one great 
object of love and worship 5 the fall of man, and 
the entire depravity of the whole human family as 
the consequence of it; the human and divine na- 
tures of Christ, as becoming sin for us, who knew 
no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of 
God through him — that the divine law might be 
sustained, and the guilty reclaimed to holiness and 
favor, on the conditions of repentance and faith ; 
the sovereign and special influence of the Holy 
Spirit in the work of regeneration, or changing the 
heart ; justification by faith through the redemp- 
tion of Christ; the doctrine of future endless pun- 
ishment to the wicked, and the everlasting rewards 
of the righteous, who are kept by the mighty power 
of God, through faith unto eternal life. These 
great and fundamental truths are so legibly writ- 
ten upon the sacred page, that all true christians 
have embraced them. Let them never be relin- 
quished. While strenuous efforts should be made 
to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of 
peace ; let it be remembered that christian love 
does not require, nor is true peace ever purchased 
by a relinquishment of principle, or giving up any 
of the revealed truth of God. Let there be no 
compromise with error ; let God's word be true, 



19 

and every rational being submit to his will. May 
there be no catering here to gratify the capricious 
appetites of men, and to secure an ephemeral pop- 
ularity, at the expense of their everlasting destruc- 
tion. Here let there be no displays of eloquence 
to please the imagination, and soothe the voice of 
conscience by sweet melodious accents. Hero 
let not the voice of thunder speak, when there are 
no vivid flashes of divine truth to alarm the fears, 
and convince the soul of the dread realities of eter- 
nity. This sacred temple is dedicated to the clear 
and forcible exhibition of religious truth in all its 
bearings, and with all its results, that it may prove 
the wisdom of God and the power of God in the 
salvation of men. Tlie advocate of loose morals, 
and the scoffer at rohgion 5 tlie sabbath-breaker, 
and they who tarry long at the cup ,• the profane 
swearer, and the liur, and all who connive at ini- 
quity by precept or example — and they who join 
hand in hand to demolish the institutions of reli- 
gion, and prostrate the evangelical system, which 
God himself has sanctioned, and blessed witli the 
peculiar tokens of his favor, will here be reproved 
of sin, righteousness, and a judgment to come. 
The object and design of this building, and the 
motives which have led to its erection, we wish not 
to be; concealed, but would havo them sljiiul out in 
bold relief, and be seen by all who worship in this 
place. We would here train up inunortal beings 
for the kingdom of hoavcu. V/(^ would build up 
an interest which will lasL forevc^r ; not bv decej)- 
tion, or worldly prudence, or any concealment of 
the truth, or any union of interests which have no 
affinity for rarh othfr - for Christ's kingdom is 



20 

never sustained in this way. But by the plain 
preaching of the gospel ; by bringing the truth 
of God to bear directly upon the sinner's con- 
science ; by rousing stupid christians to duty, and 
showing them their transgressions, and raising the 
voice of remonstrance against prevalent sins and 
practices inconsistent with the gospel of Christ ; 
by urging upon the impenitent the duty of repen- 
tance and love to God^ opening to them their state 
as sinners, helpless and hopeless without the grace 
of Christ, and constantly exposed to the wrath 
of God, whose law they have wilfully broken, and 
the principles of whose kingdom they have pros- 
trated, and by beseeching them, with all the elo- 
quence of grief and tenderness, as the ambassador 
of Jesus Christ, to become reconciled to God. 

One great design of this edifice is to oppose the 
torrent of infidelity and irreligion^ under whatever 
form it may show itself; whether of pretended 
conscientious scruples concerning the rites of re- 
ligion, or the desecration of a holy Sabbath, or the 
lax discipline of the church, or taking from the Sa- 
viour divine honors, or the denial of future and ev- 
erlasting punishment. Let it be distinctly under- 
stood that error and sin will find no shelter here. 
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound^ who 
shall prepare himself for battle. 

Better that these walls should crumble to pieces, 
and this house should be demolished by the light- 
ning of heaven, than that it should be appropriated 
to the subversion of the true interests of the 
church. 

2, If we would have this house glorious with 
the presence of Christ, the Churchy the professed 



21 

people oj God. must be holy. They nuist culti- 
vate religion^ keeping their hearts with all dili- 
gence, and constantly resisting the temptations of 
the world. How many churches have made ship- 
wreck of the faith, dishonored the name by which 
they were called, become a prey to devouring 
wolves, and actually gone over to the side of the 
adversary, by remissness in practice, and inatten- 
tion to the great duties of their profession. If the 
people of God attach little importance to their re- 
ligious character and influence, and satisfy them- 
selves with an external devotion, without corres- 
ponding holy affections of mind and purity of mo- 
tives, religion will greatly decline, the Spirit of 
God will withhold his saving influences, and the 
church will have but a name to live. It is not suf- 
ficient to guard the door of the church. Christians 
are to be watchful and prayerful, and to exercise a 
godly jealousy over themselves, after they are in- 
corporated with ChrisVs visible kingdom. They 
are to engage in all the oflices of duty and piety, 
by which their hopes will be strengthened, their 
faith confirmed, and their graces invigorated, and 
so become marked as a peculiar jjcople, zealous of 
good works. So holy and unblameable should 
their lives be, that none can mistake their true re- 
ligious character. In this consists much of the 
power and glory of religion. Here is a voice which 
is heard, and tells mightily on the destinies of men. 
What christian is not ashamed, when Ikj reflects 
upon the influence of his life and deeds upon the 
prosperity of Christ\s kingdom, and the everlast- 
ing happiness or misery of his fellow men? He 
looks forward a few years, and hears the loud ho- 



22 

saunas of some blessed immortal raised to heaven 
through the power of his example ; or hears the 
direful imprecations of lost spirits in despair, whose 
destruction he assisted to promote. Who will not 
be excited to vigorous enterprize in the church, by 
a serious reflection on the influence of his life upon 
the eternal condition of his friends and associates. 
You believe in the power of divine truth, that 
God blesses it to the conversion and salvation of 
men. Exhibit the influence of truth on your 
hearts, by aiming individually at high attainments 
in religion, and in stirring up each other's minds by 
way of remembrance. Often think of your solemn 
consecration to God, and the sacred duties of yt)ur 
profession, and be drawing yourselves up to a 
stricter practice, and press forward to the mark 
for the prize of the high calling of God which is in 
Christ Jesus our Lord. Always give a serious 
and prayerful attention to the services of religion, 
and be not weary in well doing ; always abound in 
the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that 
your labor is not in vain in the Lord. You have 
made a noble consecration of your property to the 
service of God ; shall not this building stand as a 
pledge, that all your powers shall be the Lord's ; 
that henceforth you will be more eminently holy, to 
the praise of him who loved you and gave himself 
for you? Soon your days of activity will be over, 
and opportunities of usefulness will have passed a- 
way, and your accounts will be sealed up to the 
judgment. Whatever is done for God and the 
world, must be done quickly. Some of your num- 
ber, whose hopes were high, and prospects bright, 
and who looked forward to this day as the begin- 



i 



^3 

ning of a new era in the history of this church — 
some, whose hearts were with us at the commence- 
ment of this temple — have rested from their hibors 
and gone to their reward. Tiieir mantle is with 
us— we remember their example, and zeal, and 
peaceful death. But I forbear — their record is on 
high. May we not suppose their spirits arc hover- 
ing about this place, and mingling in the congratu- 
lations of this occasion. Let us be quickened in 
duty, let us renew our strength, and this day hind 
ourselves with solemn devotion to the service of 
Christ in an edifice designed to perpetuate the faith 
of our fathers, and prepare immortals for the pure 
worship of heaven. 

We need the Holu Spirit effectually to subdue 
the heart of man to the practice of godliness, and 
its blessed influences may be enjoyed. But has not 
the Spirit often been grieved away and resisted by 
the coldness and indifterence of the professed peo- 
ple of God? Has he not come near with a gra- 
cious visit, and departed, yea, been driven away, 
by the love of the world, engagedness in its cares, 
and the fear of losing a little time, which has been 
so prominently marked in the lives of the prolessed 
followers of Christ 5 when the wicked have tri- 
umphed, the tokens of the divine dis[»leasure have 
multiplied, and the impenitent have gone on quiet- 
ly, in uni)roken ranks, to peo|)le the world of woe. 
Sin lieth at the door of the church 5 and when Je- 
hovah shall make in(piisition for blood, where 
will christians hide themselves from Cod's holy 
indignation? It is sometimes the case, when Zion 
languishes, and beli(;vers indulge spiritual sloth, 
and feel no deep solicitude for perishinu: sinners ; 



24 

wl]en their devotions are cold and heavy, and no 
special exertions are made to awaken the careless 
devotee of the world, and lodge divine truth in the 
sensibilities of his soul ^ that they ascribe the i^^an^ 
of a revival to the sovereignty of divine grace^ and 
say, we must wait God's time. O, what a dread- 
ful profanation of the truth of God, as an apology 
for the inactivity of the sluggish friends of Jesus ! 
The sovereignty of divine grace never kept back 
the Spirit of God ; but the wicked negligence and 
unbelief and coldness of the professed friends of 
Christ. Awake to the demands of religion. Cul- 
tivate holiness^ without which no man shall see 
the Lord. Act up to the dignity of your profes- 
sion, as those who are intrusted with the interests 
of God's kingdom on earth, and who would enjoy 
his presence and see his glory in the sanctuary. 

3. To enjoy the presence of Christ, people must 
be wilhng to hear the faithful exhibition of truth, 
and to place themselves under its influence. No 
considerations of worldly interest, should keep 
them away from the declarations of God's mercy, 
or the plain reproofs of religion. It has come to 
pass in these days of free enquiry and lax morality, 
that individuals, who exhibit for a season much 
zeal and apparent interest in the prosperity of reli- 
gion, become offended, in reality with the plain- 
ness and fidelity of their ministers, and under pre- 
tence of conscientious scruples about the rites of 
religion, or some other plea, connect themselves 
with religious communities where the preaching is 
less offensive. Conscience is a great thing with 
them ; when the God of Heaven knows they have 
no conscience about religion, but hate the truth of 



t 



25 

God^ and are determined to go where, it" it i:i 
preached at all, the course of instruction is more 
congenial to the wicked, selfish dispositions of men; 
where it flatters their ambition, and strongly ap- 
peals to the pride of the human heart. Such per- 
sons wish to get away from the strict morality and 
pressing injunctions of the holy gospel, and wish 
not to have, every Sabbath, a dagger thrown into 
their breasts, which gives them so much uneasiness 
and pain. This is the true secret of so much sec- 
tarian zeal and exertion. Men want a little 7>iore 
latitude in religion, and though some are not wil- 
ling to renounce all that is evangelical in their be- 
lief and practice ; they w ish to make a compromise 
with error, and so by loud pretensions to a correct 
faith, they give a license to their passions, and a 
license to their tongues, and are the most danger- 
ous members of a christian community. How can 
God's presence, or the blessing of Christ, or the 
Spirit of grace, ever be expected to visit the hearts 
of such men? There is far less probability of their 
salvation, than of the most determined opposers of 
godliness. Opposition to the gospel we expect, 
because the carnal mind is enmity against God, 
and Christ's kingdom is not of this world. But 
they who wish to be christians ; they who admire 
the influence of religion on society, and are undcr- 
standingly convinced of its divine origin, and its 
happy effects on the community, must bo willing 
to hear the gospel plainly cx|)ounded and faithfully 
enforced. It should be their constant and uniform 
practice to attend upon the means of grace, and 
bring all under their influence to the house of God. 
If any thing is said which conflicts with long 
4 



26 

cherished opinions^ and strikes a death-blow at old 
habits and practices, the people are not to be of- 
fended with the preacher, because he tells them 
the truth ; but they should remember he is set a- 
part for this very business ; to open the eyes of the 
blind, to unstop the ears of the deaf, to instruct^ 
enlighten and reform mankind. Many persons, who 
lay some claim to intelligence, think, if any thing 
nez(^ is advanced, not exactly as they have thought, 
or believed, it must be passed over, as erroneous, 
or unimportant, because it was new to them 5 or 
if the minister presses these truths. Sabbath after 
Sabbath, suspicions are thrown out concerning 
him, and individuals fail of that religious improve- 
ment which might have been enjoyed 5 when the 
servant of Christ was diligently pursuing the even 
tenor of his way, and doing all in his power to save 
immortal souls. The duty is for all to hear, ex- 
amine and prove what is said individually by the 
gospel of God ; if it be agreeable to this standard, 
it must be received. No matter whether old divin- 
ity or new, it must be received into the heart, and 
whoever is so securely settled down in his own be- 
lief as to shut his eyes against light, and his under- 
standing against knowledge, may be a good man^ 
but is very far from being an efficient, intelligent, 
growing christian. Come always to the sanctuary, 
expecting to be instructed, receive truth in meek- 
ness and candour, and if it proves a mirror to 
show you the face of your heart, it will prove like 
a refiner's fire, cleansing and purifying in its ef- 
fects. Come not here to criticise, and compare 
the services of one minister with another, and find 
matter of talk and speculation. But remember, 



the weakest servant of Jesus whom you ever heard 
preach, has declared truths which will have a de- 
cided bearing on your future destiny ; and hereaf- 
ter you must answer for the manner in which you 
heard, and the improvement made of his precious 
instructions. 

A few words to the members of this Society, 
and I have done. 

This day, to you, my friends, is one of peculiar 
favour, interest and solemnity. When, in the pro- 
vidence of God, the holy and beautiful house in 
which your fathers worshipped, was burnt up with 
fire, you did not fold up your hands in sloth, and 
settle down with stupid indidorence, and say. The 
time is not come that the Lord's house should be 
built. There was an unanimous voice of resolu- 
tion and enterprizc — Let xis go forward — let us 
arise and build — and you have strengthened your 
hands to the good work. Ilavinii commended the 
undertaking to God, and prayed for his blessing, 
you have with a generous liberality and zeal gone 
forward with commendable decision of character. 
The work is done ; thetem|)le of God is biiih, and 
we are now assembled to dedicate it to his service. 
This chaste building stands, as the evidence of the 
religious principle and untiring devotion of this 
f)eo|)lc. You have, my friends, only to revert to 
the history of this Society, and know that under 
God, nothing but decision and enterprizc have 
saved you from bein:z scattered and peeled. On 
all sides, and even among us, there have Ix^en foes 
to our prosperity, constantly fomenting discord and 
strife, and trying to palsy the arm and prostrate 
the energies of this religious community. T'n(i(M- 



28 

various pretences, false and futile, your name has 
been cast out with reproach, and you have been re- 
presented as loeaky and feeble in resources. But 
none of these things have moved you. This So- 
ciety still lives and flourishes ; and the necessity 
laid upon you to erect a house for the worship of 
God, is a token of the divine favor. You have 
prosecuted this work under various discourage- 
ments. Evils and disasters have been prophecied 
of you, with the hope that success would never 
crown your efforts. But all these predictions have 
failed. Their origin was a had hearty an evil dis- 
position^ and they have vanished into thin air. 

These evil surmises and predictions concerning 
you, were nothing new under the sun. When Ne- 
hemiah fasted, and prayed, and wept, because of 
the desolations of the holy city, and set himself to 
work to build again the wall, and said to the ru- 
lers. The God of Heaven he will prosper us, there- 
fore we his servants will arise and build 5 Sanbal- 
lat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Am- 
monite, heard of it, and it grieved him exceeding- 
ly, that there was come a man to seek the welfare 
of the children of Israel. The enemies of right- 
eousness, and false pretenders to godliness, always 
tremble to see men forward in promoting religion, 
or doing any thing to extend the power of (he gos- 
pel. They misrepresented the motives of these pi- 
ous men, and mocked and hooted at them, and re- 
presented their plan as chimerical and beyond their 
means. What do these feeble Jews? Will they 
sacrifice? Will they make an end in a day? Will 
they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, 
which are burned? Even that which they build. 



29 

if a fox go up he shall even break down their stone 
wall. Nehemiah encouraged the people and said, 
Be not afraid of them — remember the Lord which 
is great and terrible. For it was evident the hand 
of the Lord was with him. So they laboured in 
the work with great perseverance, and built the 
wall, and all the wall was joined together unto the 
lialf thereof, for the people had a mind to work. 
It was true religious principle which carried 
these persecuted Jews forward in the w ork of the 
Lord, and all their energies were roused up to the 
performance of the labour. Whatever plans of 
worldly gain may have been cherished, such mo- 
tives never had power to erect this temple for God. 
It hath gone up from a lively sense of duty to the 
great Head of the Church, and a regard to the im- 
' provement and spiritual welfare of this community. 
You have felt the privilege of cheerfully and liber- 
ally devoting your substance to establish a place 
for the honor and worship of God, where his true 
character may be exhibited, and his law published; 
where the relation of man to God will be made 
known, and the obedience he recpiircs of his ration- 
al offspring ; where a messenger of mercy will open 
to men their condition as sinners, and the means 
which God has provided to reinstate them in his 
favour ; where the sacred ordinances of the church 
will be administered, and the disciples of Jesus 
grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ. 

While with pleasure we extend the humble tri- 
bute of our thanks to the Committee, who have su- 
perintended this work, and to the various mechan- 
ics who have so fiiithfully excxuted their ollices, 
and in such an orderly manner have j)rosecuted 



50 

this eiiterprize, we desire first to express our grate- 
ful acknowledgments to the Father of mercies, for 
his beneficent care in preserving the lives of all 
who have been more immediately concerned in the 
erection of this building. 

The house is completed. You might have secu- 
red a house of worship at a cheaper rate — but you 
chose to build a temple in this elegant, though 
plain and simple style ; and while its symmetry 
and just proportions will catch the eye of the pass- 
ing traveller, it will stand as a monument of the 
wisdom^ good taste and judgment of 'this Society. 
It was a generous liberality which devised and ex- 
ecuted this noble structure. There is nothing here 
to gratify the desires or suit the wishes of the ava- 
ricious, and there never should be in an house for 
God — for the offering which costs nothing, is worth 
nothing. But there is much to suit the feelings, 
improve the manners, and mend the heart of a be- 
nevolent worshipper of Jesus Christ. 

The house is finished — and we solemnly dedicate 
it to Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Ghost — 
but the great end of this temple is not obtained 
without saving benefit. Though much is accom- 
plished, much remains to be effected. The salva- 
tion of your souls must be an object in importance 
paramount to all other considerations whatever. 
What advantao^e to assist in buildin^ an house for 
God on earth, and mingling in its hallowed employ- 
ments, with no evidence of a preparation for that 
temple which is not made with hands, but eternal 
in the heavens? Let all earthly things be subser- 
vient to the acquisition of an interest in Christ. 
Endeavour to have a constant and realizing sense 



t 



51 

of the high and important ends of your existence, 
and bring all your powers to bear upon your eter- 
nal interest. 

We have begun to assemble in this new house ; 
let us always come here to worship God in spirit 
and in truth. Let us feel the presence of Christ, 
and may we here see his glory, and rejoice in his 
goodness. Here may the Holy Spirit till this 
^ouse with glory in the multiplication of the tri- 
umphs of divine mercy to the honor of God's name, 
and to the enlargement of his kingdom. 

Arise^ O Gody info thy resty thou and the ark 
of th]) strength. Let thy pj^iests be clothed icith 
righteousness, and let thy saints shout for joy. 

Amen. 



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